Winter supply margins expected to be higher

National Grid’s latest Winter outlook has forecast an increase in spare power capacity compared to last year.

The grid operator expects the surplus electricity margin to be in the range of 3.7GW to 4.9GW – or 6.2% to 8.2% for winter 2017/18.

Cordi O’Hara, Director of UK System Operation said: “The margin has increased from last year which is encouraging as we enter the first main delivery year of the Capacity Market.

“We expect there to be sufficient gas supplies this winter and expect them to be met from a wide range of supply sources.”

Consultation responses urged

National Grid has assumed a total of 3.6GW of interconnector capacity will be available for imports and 4GW for exports.

National Grid said Winter 2016/17 was an average winter as far as temperatures go, but colder than experienced over the last two winters. It said transmission system demand was 50.9GW, 1.1GW lower at peak than forecast in last year’s Winter Outlook.

The operator is now consulting on the report and responses can be emailed to us at marketoutlook@nationalgrid.com or completed online via the survey on its website.The consultation closes on 14 July.